Typhoon Sanba (international designation: 1216, JTWC designation: 17W, PAGASA name: Karen) is currently a tropical cyclone in the Sea of Japan. Being the sixteenth named storm and tenth typhoon of the 2012 Pacific typhoon season, Sanba has been the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide in 2012. The name Sanba, which refers to the Ruins of St. Paul’s in Macau, is a transcription of São Paulo.

Tropical Storm Sanba (17W), located approximately 10 nm northwest of Taegu, South Korea, has made landfall and accelerated north-northeastward at 20 knots over the past six hours. The initial position and intensity were based on animated radar imagery from the Korean meteorological agency and from surface observations from Taegu
that reported maximum winds of 24 gusting to 40 knots.

Sanba is currently at the base of the Taebaek Mountain Range and poised to ramp up the high and very rugged terrain. Upper level analysis indicates the system is now embedded in the baroclinic zone and undergoing extratropical transition. It is expected to become a cold core low after its remnants emerge back in the Sea of Japan by TAU 12. The alternate scenario is that the system will dissipate over land.